Maintenance on a very low mileage
 

Hello everyone,

I've been looking for a 2012 C300 4MATIC Sport for over a year and finally found one last month. I bought it from an auction in the US as it was involved in a small fender bender, but the car is pretty much brand new with only 5,920 miles on it as confirmed by Carfax, MBUSA, and the dealership where it was serviced (New Jersey).

It will arrive in Lebanon early next month where I will fix the front bumper (cheap labor here) and own it long-term.

I studied the maintenance manual and the forums and found the following maintenance intervals:
Maintenance Item Mileage IntervalTime Interval (Years)
Engine Oil and Filter 10,000 1
Dust Filter 20,000 2
Brake Fluid 2
Air Filter 40,000 4
Transmission Fluid & Filter 40,000 4
Spark Plugs 60,000 6
Differential Fluid 100,000
Coolant 150,000 15

Since the car is six years old now, I plan on definitely changing the engine and oil filter, the AC dust filter, the brake fluid, and the Engine Air Filter.

I wanted to ask you how urgently do you think I should change the transmission fluid and filter and the spark plugs? Shall I do that right away based on the time interval limitation or is it ok to wait until 10,000 miles for example? I baby all my cars in terms of maintenance (definitely not in terms of spirited driving :)) so I wouldn't mind at all changing everything required right away. I just don't want to throw money at it where it's not required. I could use that money for the mods I have in mind.

Thank you in advance for chiming in and providing your feedback.

I would go on mileage and not time for the items you brought up.

The AC filter and the engine dust filter I would wait for mileage too.

Yea the stuff doesn't just degrade without use, so you should actually be fine for the most part. A lot of these are pretty well sealed systems so I think it's solid.

Also grats on the car. I know you've been looking for one for a while. How much did it cost to ship to Lebanon?

So you're saying all I need to change is the engine oil and filter and leave the rest alone until the mileage interval comes up?

Thanks! The car was loaded in a 4-car container on a MAERSK ship in Houston Texas and costs $800 to get it shipped to Lebanon. The ship will stop in Spain and Egypt before making it to Beirut, Lebanon.

Brake fluid too. You should change it every two years according to MB.

Congrats on the car! All this time I thought you had a 204!

Thanks! I've had 2 CLKs since 2013, but I've been active in the w204 forum ever since I started my search.

$800?!?! Man, I definitely have to bring our jeep over there when its time to buy a new one so I can have one in Europe. Make use of that AWD in the mountains lol.

What company do you use?

Man I really hope whoever buys my 204 is someone as knowledgeable and religious with understanding cars as you. It breaks my heart that my 204 is going to go towards some random dude who won't appreciate how much I've babied my 204. Oh well, that's life.

Congrats again and enjoy the new ride!

I always have that fear and I am having it now regarding the CLK because I baby all my cars and whoever gets it will be super lucky. It's 13 years old but its interior and dash look like it just came out from the factory.

Everything works and it drives well. I'd keep it as a weekend touring car, but I have no physical place to park it.

Oh well, like you said, it's life.

2 years later, my car is now 8 years old and has 48,000 km. Do you think I should change the transmission fluid and filter? It still has the original factory fluid. The change interval for the 7G+ transmission is 8 years or 112,654 km/70,000 miles.

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BUMP

Yes, it's time for a fluid change. Make sure to drain the torque converter and I even go as far as taking the drain plug out from the back of the transfer case.

Thanks for the response. Yes the TC i am aware of draining but not the transfer case. I'll look into that.

Hey pal. How has the car been over the years? I just purchased my first W204 (2013 C300 4mat); was previously driving a 2013 Golf TDI. I cut my Merc teeth on a Crossfire of all things (M112). Love that car!

Thanks and take care!
Lance

The 2013 C300 has the new-then M276 V6 engine which had its fair share of trouble. It needed check valves installed, chain tensioners replaced, and the high-pressure fuel pump fails and requires replacement. This is why I stayed away from 2013-14 w204 and went with the 2012 model which has the reliable-by-then M272 V6 engine.

Check the attached file to know what I'm talking about.

I changed the transmission fluid yesterday and I will post a thread about it soon with pictures and interesting tips and findings. I just wanted to say thank you for raising my attention about the drain plug of the transfer case. I wouldn't have thought about it. 1L of fluid or more came out of it. Have you done this before?

Yes, I do it every fluid change. I also recommend anyone planning on keeping their cars for a long time to take the valve body off when the car reaches 200k+ and clean the solenoids/conductor plate. I did this around the 200k mark and there was quite a bit of dirt. From my understanding, when the conductor plate fails or anything electronical inside the transmission, it is the clutch material getting in and shorting things out. Cleaning it will definitely extend the life of it, at least it did for me. Just crossed 315 00km and the transmission is original and still shifts very nicely. I drive the car pretty hard in manual mode all the time with no problems, yet.

I posted a report on my recent 7G+ transmission fluid change here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post8234923
Please read it and let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.